The Courtesy Flush Explained: Pros, Cons & How to Do It

If you’re using the bathroom, a courtesy flush can help prevent odors, remove residual marks, and avoid the embarrassment of taking a number two. It’s an essential part of toilet etiquette, and we’re here to teach you all about it. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about courtesy flushing, including how to do it and whether it’s actually helpful. We’ll also break down the pros and cons of courtesy flushing so you can decide if it’s necessary.

What is courtesy flushing?

Courtesy flushing is when you double flush to prevent smells and clear waste quickly. It’s considered a polite gesture, especially if you’re using a shared bathroom. A courtesy flush can also remove residual skids that remain after the first flush, but it does waste water and potentially spread bacteria.

Section 1 of 7:

What is a courtesy flush?

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A courtesy flush is flushing the toilet mid-use to prevent odors. It involves flushing as soon as the first waste is deposited and flushing after you’re completely done. This prevents unpleasant odors from lingering in the air and removes any residue that might be sitting above the toilet’s water line. Most people courtesy flush out of respect for others, especially if they’re using a shared bathroom or someone else’s bathroom.^{[1]
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- Courtesy flushing is common practice in prison, since residual skids can stink up the cell and make everyone uncomfortable.

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How to Do a Courtesy Flush

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Flush in the middle of pooping, and after you finish. As waste leaves your body and heads towards the water, flush the toilet to clear it out immediately and keep unpleasant smells at bay. Finish pooping, wipe your butt, and then flush the toilet again to remove any remaining skids and clear the toilet bowl completely.
- After you’re done using the bathroom, be sure to wash your hands. You can also spray air freshener or turn on the bathroom fan to clear the air.

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Pros of a Courtesy Flush

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Courtesy flushing helps combat the smell of your poop. While the water in the toilet bowl doesn’t mask the smell of your poop entirely, a courtesy flush can help. It removes the stench of waste before it has a chance to escape into the air, preventing smells from lingering in the bathroom.
- The second flush can also get rid of any remaining waste that leads to unpleasant odor and reduce the sound of taking a dump.
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Courtesy flushing can remove skid marks in the toilet bowl. With a courtesy flush, you avoid the embarrassment of leaving skid marks or residue left inside the toilet after flushing. Courtesy flushing washes away any waste that isn’t fully submerged in the toilet water, so you leave the bathroom nice and clean for the next person in line.
- A double flush is generally more effective at removing residual skid marks than single flushes.
- Some people claim that courtesy flushing can also prevent clogs, especially for large or sticky dumps.

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Cons of a Courtesy Flush

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Courtesy flushing uses more water than the average flush. While courtesy flushing does reduce odors in the bathroom, it doubles the amount of water used. Newer toilets use 1.3 to 1.6 gallons (4.9 to 6.1 liters) per flush, while older toilets use up to 6 gallons (22.7 liters).^{[2]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices

Go to source} That means a courtesy flush can result in 2.6 to 12 gallons (9.84 to 45.42 liters) of water being used, depending on your toilet type.
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Courtesy flushing may spread bacteria in the bathroom. If you flush the toilet with the lid open, it can spread bacteria from your urine and feces into the air. The bacteria can potentially land on your toothbrush, towels, and anything else in your bathroom, which may make you sick.^{[3]
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- You can avoid the spread of bacteria in your bathroom by closing the toilet lid before your final flush and cleaning the toilet bowl with disinfectant weekly.

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Are courtesy flushes useful?

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Courtesy flushes are useful for getting rid of residual waste and odors. The longer your poop sits in the toilet, the longer the smell lingers in the bathroom. A courtesy flush removes waste as soon as it hits the bowl, which can prevent the odor from escaping into the air. It’s helpful if you want to keep what happened during your bathroom visit private and make the experience better for other people.

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Are courtesy flushes healthy?

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Sitting on the toilet during a courtesy flush may not be healthy. Doing a courtesy flush isn’t going to kill you, but it isn’t the healthiest thing either, since you’re spreading bacteria all over your butt cheeks. When you flush the toilet, it can spread Clostridioides difficile (also known as C. diff), a bacterium that can infect your colon and cause diarrhea, inflammation, and other symptoms.^{[4]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- As long as you stay clean, C. diff isn’t anything to worry about. Just remember to wipe and wash your butt to maintain good personal hygiene!
- If you’re worried about being exposed to C. diff, stand up and close the toilet lid before courtesy flushing, as it will stop the bacterium from spreading throughout the bathroom.

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Are courtesy flushes necessary?

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Courtesy flushing isn’t necessary, but it shows consideration for others. You don’t have to courtesy flush every time you poop, but if you’re in a shared space where others will be using the same bathroom, courtesy flushes are the considerate thing to do. They show that you’re thinking about the other people who use the bathroom and trying to keep them from smelling your poopy odors.
- Courtesy flushes are often considered the hygienic thing to do in public spaces, so while it’s not necessary, many people may advise that you perform one after pooping.
- If you don’t want to courtesy flush, spray some air freshener in the air before and after you poop, turn on the bathroom fan before you poop, or crack open a window.